11-5-01

F.H. Meier, the city water man, reported to us this week that he had done his part toward our notorious back alley. He stopped the leak in the water pipe. We give him credit for this with pleasure. The alley is still in serious condition, but little hope is entertained for its ultimate recovery.

"Dr. Copenhaver has diagnosed its case as chronic Rubbishitis, with complications and has prescribed a good working man with a rake, hoe, and a shovel, accompanied by a good wagon and team, following up with a good grader. Chronic Rubbishitis is catching."

Believe it or not this was printed in the November 15^th edition of the Aubrey Argus newspaper in 1924.

Well, Dr. Copenhaver if you are looking down on us today, I’m sure you have noticed that your diagnosis of the streets in Aubrey in 1924 was and still is accurate. "Rubbishitis"– Is it Rubb–i–shit–is or is it Rubbish–itis?

Whatever the syllable pronunciation is doesn’t matter, because both are pretty bad but very accurate. Sometimes the fumes from the sewer pipes in the back alley back up in the drains and come up into the store here – and the smell is like rubb–i–shit–is.

Another Aubrey businessman complained to the city and they told him that there was no problem. Well it is no problem for the city, because they don’t have to smell it. I would like to ask if it is healthy for one to breathe the fumes of rubb–i–shit–is? Is it healthy for small day-care children playing out on the playground to have to breathe this rubb–i–shit–is? I should say not.

One day several weeks ago three people came in complaining about sewer problems. All three had attempted to remedy problems and were stopped by the city and instructed that they must first purchase a permit from the city.

As for the pronunciation of rubbishitis, well all one needs to do is drive around the streets of Aubrey to see this serious condition for which little hope is entertained for its ultimate recovery.

Some few cowards recently took the liberty to throw rolls of bath tissue up in the trees and run and hide, because it is a $200 fine (state law) to litter. I know the local officials are enforcing the issue and if not, they should be because $200 dollars will go a long way in the budget, but of course we don’t want to offend anyone, so we can just look forward to the "tissue– itis".

History indicates that Aubrey was half native Americans at about the time this 1924 article was printed; they were not allowed to vote because they were not considered American citizens. But you know, these same descendants are still around in the Aubrey Area.

As Dr. Copenhaver is looking down, I am sure he noticed Mr. Bill Coffey busy as a bee, tenacious as a spider, and never tiring as an ant storing up food for the winter. Dr. Copenhaver, please put in a good word for us poor old Aubrey folks and ask the Good Lord God Almighty to send us some more people like Mr. Coffey.

And thank you Almighty for our history of local events because it will serve as a gauge of our progress over the past hundred years.

Instead of a photo this week, I want to show you the newsprint as it appeared in 1924, just one year after the Aubrey citizens voted to incorporate in order to illuminate such activities we are still confronted with almost one hundred years later.

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